Have you ever wanted to braid hair? Follow these steps and with a bit of practice, you'll be a braiding pro. Braided hair looks pretty on everyone, and is a great option for when you want a quick and easy hairstyle that looks like it required a lot of effort.

Start with a secure base (optional). If you tie hair into a ponytail or half ponytail with a hair tie, your braid will be easier to handle and turn out a little neater. Once you get the hang of it, try to start braiding loose hair at the nape of the neck.

Add embellishment to your braid (optional). Tie a colorful ribbon in a bow at the end of your braid for extra flair.

You can use tulle, grosgrain, or ric rac, all of which can be found in a variety of colors at your local fabric store.

Use a cute hair pin or brooch to pin near the base of your braid, or to hole back your bangs.

Method 2 of 5: French

1

Comb out any knots. French braiding can be particularly tricky if your hair is tangled, so take a few minutes to remove knots with a brush or wide-toothed comb.

2

Part out your starter section. For a traditional French braid, this is probably the front section of your hair, that's closest to your forehead and temples.

You don't have to start a French braid at the top of your head. It's the easiest way to learn, but theoretically you could start a French braid anywhere. Just make sure you're including the hair above your ears in your starter section if you decide to move down the head.

You can create multiple French braids on your hair using several parts. If you have short hair, it may be easier to make two medium braids rather than one large one.

3

Separate your starter section into three equal sections. These three strands will make up the beginning of the braid.

The real trick to French braiding is keeping your three sections evenly sized as you braid. Give yourself a solid head start by making sure your strands are equal to begin with.

Make sure the strands start from the same row of hair, rather than staggered areas. Keeping the three strands close together will also be helpful.

4

Hold the three strands in your hands. Grasping the strands correctly will help you braid neatly and quickly. Though you might find another way that's more comfortable for you, here's a basic beginning grip:

Grasp the left strand in your left hand.

Grasp the center strand between the thumb and index finger of your right hand.

Grasp the right strand between your right palm and the last three fingers of your right hand.

5

Move the right strand to the center. Here's how to shift the right strand without completely losing your hold on the braid:

With the last three fingers of your left hand, grip the left strand between your fingers and your palm. This should free up your left thumb and index finger.

With your left thumb and index finer, reach over the center strand and grab the right strand. You should now have two strands in your left hand and one in your right hand.

6

Move the left strand to the center. This will be the same process as the previous step, mirrored.

With the last three fingers of your right hand, grip the right strand between your fingers and your palm. This should free up your right thumb and index finger.

With your right thumb and index finger, reach over the center strand and grab the left strand. You should now have two strands in your right hand and one in your left hand.

7

Add hair to the right strand. Up until now, you've done a regular braid. This is where the "French" part of the process comes in. It might take you a few tries to get it right, but it's easier once you're comfortable with the grip.

Let go of the center strand, and allow it to hang between the left and right strands. You should be able to tell it apart from the rest of your hair — it'll be slightly elevated above the hair that hasn't been braided yet.

Grip the left strand between the last three fingers of your left hand and your left palm and grab the right strand with your left thumb and index finger. Your right hand should now be free.

Using your right hand, pull up a small section of unbraided hair from the right side of your head. Grab this new section with your left thumb and index finger to add it to the right strand of the braid.

Pick up the center strand of the braid again. Grab it with your right hand, and move it to the right, making it your new right strand. The section you added hair to, between your left thumb and index finger, is the new center strand.

8

Add hair to the left strand. This process will be just like the previous step, but using opposite sides:

Let go of the center strand. Again, it will hang between the left and right strands.

Grip the right strand between the last three fingers of your right hand and your right palm.

Grab the left strand with your right thumb and index finger. Your left hand should now be free.

Using your left hand, pull up a small section of unbraided hair from the left side of your head. Grab the new section with your right thumb and index finger to add it to the left section of the braid.

Pick up the center strand of the braid again. Grab it with your left hand, and move it to the left, making it your new left strand. The section you added hair to, between your right thumb and index finger, is the new center strand.

9

Continue braiding in this pattern. You will run out of new hair to add into the braid when you reach the nape of your neck, at which point you can finish with a regular braid. To keep the braid looking as neat as possible, try to add sections that are about the same size throughout the braid.

10

Do a basic braid on the rest of the hair. Continue doing a regular three-strand braid with the hair that's still loose.

11

Secure the braid. Use a hair tie the same color as your hair, or one that is translucent so that it blends in. Avoid rubber bands, which can damage your hair and be difficult to remove.

12

Set the braid with hairspray (optional). Hairspray or spray gel can help your French braid from developing flyaways as the day goes on.

If you're going to add extra embellishment to your hair, hairspray it first. This will prevent flaky residue from getting on your barrettes or ribbons.

Using shine serum will help to keep your hair looking smooth and soft, if it has the tendency to be rough and dry looking.

13

Add embellishment to your braid (optional). For some extra flair, tie a colorful ribbon in a bow at the end of your braid.

You can use tulle, grosgrain, or ric rac, all of which can be found in a variety of colors at your local fabric store.

Adding a pretty brooch or multiple hair pins along the braid is a great way to add a bit of glam to your look.

Repeat this pattern till you run out of hair. Keep alternating sides and adding strands until you get to the end of your locks. Try to keep the small strands that you pull into the main sections as evenly sized as possible.

Method 4 of 5: Five-Strand

Separate the hair into five equal sections. A five-strand braid looks a little more intricate and elegant than a standard three-strand braid, and it's easy to do once you get the process down.

When you're first learning, consider pulling your hair into a ponytail and starting the braid there, so you're working with a stable base.

It's easiest to braid a five-strand braid when your hair is wet or greasy from going a few days of being unwashed. This will help to keep the sections together, and prevent fly-aways from getting tangled up in other strands.

2

Hold the strands with both hands. It's easiest if you hold the two leftmost strands in your left hand, and the two rightmost strands in your right hand, allowing the center strand to hang loose.

Numbering the strands can help you keep them straight. They should look like 1 2 3 4 5.

3

Move the leftmost strand to the center. Move it over strand 2, and under stand 3, so that it's now in the center.

You should now have 2 3 1 4 5.

You are essentially weaving your hair, moving the strands from the right to the left, and the left to the right.

4

Weave the rightmost strand to the center. Move it over strand 4 and under strand 1, so that 5 is now in the center.

You should now have 2 3 5 1 4.

5

Continue weaving your hair until you run out. Keep alternating outer strands and moving them to the center.

6

Tie off the braid. Use a ribbon or non-rubber hair elastic to secure the end of the braid.

Method 5 of 5: Other Styles

1

Learn how to Dutch braid. This is the reverse of a French braid, where instead of braiding strands over each other you braid them under. It is very simple to do, and instead of the braid sitting under your hair (as with a French braid), it sits as a 3-D section above your hair.

2

Try a waterfall braid. This beautiful style is created by letting strands of hair hang loose from a French braid, similar to the look of a waterfall. When you feel comfortable with your skills in French braiding, take the next step to try a waterfall braid.

3

Create a braided headband. This is a small, thin braid that goes from ear-to-ear across your forehead, like a headband. It uses the process of French or Dutch braiding to turn your bangs into a statement piece.

4

Make a braided braid. Say what? This is a regular three-strand braid, but each section is pre-braided to create a very intricate, large braid. This style is great with a bohemian headband or pin, or to give the impression of a lot of work when you didn't do much at all!

5

Try a rope braid. This is a pretty braid that looks like a spiraling rope strand, Although it can be a little difficult to master, it is great for leaving down or twirling up into a bun.

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Tips

Never try to take out the braid from the top. It will make dry, coarse and knotty tangles in your hair. Instead, take the braid out by unbraiding it from the bottom.

If you've never braided before, learn the pattern with thick yarn, ribbon or long-haired dolls before you start on somebody's hair. It takes some practice to get the feel of it.

If you are having a hard time keeping your groups separate, put small rubber bands towards the end of each section and when you get closer to the end of the braid take them out and finish the braid.

For a messy look don't do the braiding tightly.

If you are having trouble braiding your own hair try practicing on a friend to get the hang of it.

Gentle tension on the braid, pulling down on the strands, will keep it snug.

You want to keep adding water or detangler spray to help it be neater.

If you're having a hard time french braiding, put your hair into a half-ponytail and secure with an elastic. This is your stable center section, and the elastic should eventually be hidden by the braid.

Don't try it on yourself first, practice on a friend or a doll if you want a good look.